14-man Hinckley hold on to take win
TABLE topping Hull Ionians were the visitors at Leicester Road this week as Hinckley looked to extend their winning start to the season against a side that were playing National 1 rugby last season.
Ionians had announced their intentions of making an early return with maximum points and 119 points from their first 3 games.
In the event, Hornets registered perhaps their best result of the campaign so far with a 35-24 victory which was even more remarkable as they had played most of the game with 14 men after Calum Dacy had been red-carded for an alleged boot to the head.
Hinckley outplayed their illustrious visitors in pretty well every aspect of the game and came away with a five point maximum. What was particularly pleasing to see was that Hinckley dominated in the tight, an area which had been of some concern.
Hinckley’s Director of Rugby George Chuter said: “I’m really happy with the result. I was disappointed when we went down to 14 but from that point on the lads showed great resolve to dig in against a team who will prove to be one of the better teams in the division’.”
It couldn’t have started much better for the Hornets though when, after they recovered a loose ball in the Ionians 22, Joe Glover fielded a chip kick from Joe Wilson to go over near the posts. Wilson missed the conversion in what were far from ideal kicking conditions but Hinckley were 5-0 ahead with only 3 minutes on the clock.
It didn’t take long for Hornets to extend their lead when Henry Povoas broke a tackle on the Ionians 22m to charge for the line. A neat offload to Alex Salt saw the Hinckley captain dot down for his third try of the campaign.
Hornets were on the scoreboard again when Wilson slotted a penalty from 22m after Ionians were penalised for tackling Salt without the ball and it seemed like a romp was on the cards.
But Ionians were not for lying down. A dropped ball by Hinckley in their own 22m was snaffled by Ionians and worked to the left for winger Sam Wilson to score. The conversion brought it back to 13-7 and Ionians began to force themselves back into the game.
Disaster struck for Hornets on the half-hour when a poor kick out of defence allowed the Ionians to run back at the Hinckley defence. The defence held but as the Hornets tried to work the ball away the touch judge intervened and Dacey was shown red.
But Ionians couldn’t take advantage and Hinckley added to their lead when Wilson slotted his second penalty, awarded for a high tackle.
On the cusp of half-time, Hinckley were pressing for their third try but an outstanding piece of play from Ionians centre James Tincknell saw him strip the ball from his opposite number and run virtually the length of the field. A despairing tap tackle by Wilson brought Tincknell to ground just short but he off-loaded to winger Kuki to stroll over.
Ten minutes into the second period and it became 13 against 14 when a bout of handbags saw Alex Salt and Ionians Mark Wigham taking an enforced rest.
The crucial score came on 55 minutes. An enormous relieving penalty from Wilson saw Hornets with an attacking line-out in the Ionians 22m.
Hornets went through the phase with the fiery Sam Driver prominent, and Glover eventually picked up at the back of a ruck under the posts and stretched for the line under pressure. Wilson converted to put a little daylight between the teams.
A couple of minutes later Ionians were penalised on their 10m line but, with the referee playing advantage, Tom Wheatcroft launched a classic cross-field kick which was collected by Wilson who forced his way over the line in the corner for the bonus point try. Wilson converted what was the most difficult kick of the game.
Ionians were far from finished and when a drive went down, Tincknell went over under the posts.
Hornets responded with a try of their own when Dylan Weddle, following up his own kick, touch the ball down in the in-goal area as the Ionians back three failed to deal with the bobbling ball.
The game was won but Ionians managed to claim a bonus point at the death when tight-head Ben Bell crashed over.
Hornets visit perennial challengers Stourbridge next week in what should prove another classic encounter.